The Vampire Diaries Review: Nostalgia’s a Bitch (Season 8 Episode 10)

As the series approaches the end, The Vampire Diaries Season 8 Episode 10, titled “Nostalgia’s a Bitch” brings back a parade of gone but not forgotten characters.

When a show wraps up, the writers like to remind the audience of the beginning. Damon stuck inside his subconscious provides the stage for a walk down memory lane.

With the help of Sybil, Caroline and Bonnie take a trip inside Damon’s head. Needless to say, they aren’t prepared for the familiar faces they encounter.

Damon is nowhere to be found. Instead, the girls first run into Vicki Donovan. If you’ve been a viewer since the pilot, then you are well aware of the tragedy of Matt’s sister.

She’s not talked about often, but Vicki was killed off fairly early into the run of the show. Having Damon turn her into a vampire and then her get permanently killed off was a shock.

In this version of Damon’s mind, Vicki is alive and never even heard of him before. Her screen time is limited, but I’m okay with that.

The next familiar face is Caroline’s mom, Elizabeth. Sadly in this version of the world, Elizabeth quickly figures out her daughter is a vampire and tortures her.

Caroline admits that what made her truly forgive Damon for all the evil deeds he’s done is how he was able to to understand how it felt for her to lose her mom. Damon and Elizabeth were friends. He lost her too when she passed.

While Caroline is off with her mom, Bonnie runs straight to Grams’ house. I forgot just how much I liked Grams. Sensible with the magic, but always willing to hear Bonnie out and support her.

Watching the reappearance of Vicki, Elizabeth, and Grams made me feel nostalgic and slightly sad by all their fates. The last character we see again is none other than Tyler.

Tyler’s story was never properly served well. His appearance in the episode just has me shaking my head at what could have been for his character.

Since this is Damon’s version of reality, Tyler insists he is the only one who can forgive Damon for murdering him. He’s technically right, but this show rarely holds the main characters accountable for their actions. They are ultimately forgiven by their friends and what’s done is done.

Bonnie tells Tyler she forgives Damon, but forgiveness from her or Caroline or Tyler is not the answer. The only person who can get through to Damon has to be Stefan.

No great shock here. The relationship between the Salvatore brothers was always the heart of the series. However, when Stefan is tasked to go inside his brother’s head, I am not ready for what’s about to happen next.

The tension at the root of their relationship is that Stefan forced this vampire existence on Damon. It only makes sense that in order to be freed, Damon must forgive Stefan.

Every person that Damon has killed is a direct result of Stefan’s actions. Damon has never truly forgiven his brother, and it’s held him back from moving forward.

Of course Stefan being in Ripper mode doesn’t exactly show any remorse. In fact, he is gleeful to tell Damon how he struck up a deal with Seline and compelled Matt to ring the Maxwell bell twelve times so the fabric between Cade’s world and theirs will be ripped open and kill everyone in Mystic Falls.

UGH! I just want hero Stefan to return already. Ripper Stefan is just so mean.

I still don’t really get why the bell is the thing that opens up hell on Earth, but I gave up a long time ago trying to understand these types of plot points on the show. At this point, I’m just here for the characters.

Anyway, Damon manages to snap out of himself, and neutralize Stefan before getting over to the bell.

Knowing Matt would have no choice but to ring the bell since he wouldn’t be able to forgive Damon for killing Vicki, he tries to get his father to kill him. Poor Matt is always trying to do the right thing. Luckily, Damon knocks Matt out in time just has he’s about to hit the bell a final time.

Honestly, this episode wasn’t holding much of my attention until three particular scenes. The first being the scene between Damon and Stefan in the graveyard.

The second scene belongs to Damon’s long overdue apology to Matt for killing Vicki. This was a step in the right direction. I don’t think Matt will ever “like” Damon, but maybe he’ll stop cheering for his potential demise.

The third scene is Damon telling Bonnie exactly what was in the letter. These two hit me right in the feels. I love their friendship so much, and I’m glad to see them get back to a good place.

As the episode came to a close, we have Stefan locked away in the basement with Caroline very practically telling him that even if they don’t end up together, she will get him back to his normal self.

Oh wait! I can’t forget the (permanent?) death of the Sirens. I never really cared for either Seline or Sybil, so I am thrilled if this is the last we see of them.

After all, the final showdown has to be between the Salvatore brothers and the ultimate big bad… the Devil himself!

Stray Thoughts and Questions

• Why strike the bell twelve times? What’s the significance of that number?
• Are there any other deceased characters you wish made an appearance?
• I detect some humanity creeping through Stefan during his confrontation with Damon in the graveyard
• Where are Alaric and the twins?
• Where was Enzo during all this?

What did you think of this episode of The Vampire Diaries? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Vampire Diaries airs Fridays at 8/7c on The CW.

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